2025 Toyota 4Runner Gets Updates, First-Ever Platinum and Trailhunter

The 2025 Toyota 4Runner, a mainstay of the automaker’s SUV lineup for 40 years, is debuting its sixth-generation model early next year with first-time upgrades.

The new 4Runner – built on the automaker’s TNGA-F global platform shared with the Tacoma, Tundra, Land Cruiser and Sequoia – comes standard with a new 2.4L turbocharged i-FORCE powertrain, producing  278 hp and 317 lb.-ft. (430 Nm) of torque, with an available i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain taking that output up to 326 hp and 465 lb.-ft. (630 Nm) of torque.

Toyota is offering nine trims for the venerable SUV, including the first-ever Trailhunter and Platinum models. The 2025 4Runner will hit dealerships in January, with a starting price of $40,770, with the top trim starting at $66,900.

The Trailhunter and Platinum grades are available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium and Limited grades. The 2.4L turbo iFORCE 4-cyl. is standard on the SR5, TRD Sport and TRD Sport Premium grades, and available on TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium and Limited.

Trailhunter includes standard features such as Old Man Emu shocks, a low-profile high-mount air intake, 33-in. Toyo tires with 18-in. bronze-finished wheels, an on-board air compressor, color selectable LED fog lamps, roof rack and the bronze-colored Toyota heritage-inspired grille with an integrated LED light bar.

4Runner in available in 2-wheel, part-time 4-wheel and full-time 4-wheel drive. All iFORCE MAX trims come standard with 4WD. The Limited and Platinum grades have full-time 4WD with an electronic locking center differential.

Multi-Terrain Select is functional in both 4WD-High and 4WD-Low, offering adjustable settings to help control wheel spin on a variety of terrain. 4Runner also makes available Toyota's next-generation Crawl Control technology that acts as a low-speed, off-road cruise control.

4Runner features Electric Power Steering, standard power rear window with an available hands-free power liftgate and Toyota’s Safety Sense 3.0 suite standard on all models.

4Runner’s maximum towing capacity is 6,000 lbs. (2,722 kg). Trailer Back Up Guide with Straight Path Assist is also available and features a combination of sensors and cameras to help keep a trailer in a straight line while reversing. The feature also gives the driver a 360-degree top-down view of the vehicle to aid visibility, including tough-to-see areas around the truck and trailer. 4Runner’s standard Blind Spot Monitor can identify when a trailer is being towed and extend the area of detection to recognize and alert the driver to potential hazards in blind spots.

The Platinum grade, slotted above Limited, offers a high-end, luxury experience adding unique black exterior styling bits, premium leather-trimmed seats, heated second-row outboard seats, a standard tow tech package, head-up display and automatic rain-sensing wipers.

The new 4Runner comes with a standard 8-in. (20-cm) or available 14-in. (36-cm) multimedia touchscreen that displays Toyota’s latest audio multimedia system. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A 12.3-in. (31-cm) digital gauge cluster is also standard on all i-FORCE MAX 4Runner grades.

With the i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain, Toyota says the SUV gets up to an EPA-estimated 24 mpg (9.8 L/100 Km).

4Runner sales saw a significant increase from 2013 to 2018, peaking at 139,694 units in 2018. However, there has been a gradual decline since then, with 109,951 units sold in 2023. The updated version, though, should bring it back to previous sales levels.